The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Daniel Shirey Senior wide receiver Kris Durham has elected to have surgery on his left shoulder. He will redshirt and sit out this season. [Click to enlarge]

Kris Durham will miss the 2009 season.

The would-be senior receiver from Calhoun has opted to have surgery on his left shoulder in May and take a medical redshirt, head coach Mark Richt announced Wednesday.

"It's a decision we all feel like is in his best interest," Richt said. "He feels very strong that it is in his best interest too. He just wants to make sure his senior year is a good, strong, healthy one."

With around 20 players limited or out coming into the spring, staying healthy was a concern and a goal for the Bulldogs.

They've done a decent job, with the exception of Durham's injury and a few others.

The most costly injuries have come at defensive end, where Demarcus Dobbs fractured his foot and Jeremy Longo hurt his shoulder, leaving the Bulldogs with only two scholarship D-ends.

Other than that, new injuries have been held to a minimum. But Georgia has still had to face some struggles fielding full squads in practice.

"We're piecemealing the second teams a little bit, but individually they're getting what they need," Richt said. "Once G-Day is over … we're going to have 40 to 50 more healthy bodies [for summer camp], when you consider the freshmen coming in too."

Safety Bryan Evans suffered what he called a "minor concussion" in Saturday's scrimmage, and has yet to practice since, trying to get ready for Saturday's G-Day game.

"I think the people who stepped in [after injuries], they're doing all that they can," Evans said. "And at the same time we've got a lot of people that have come back."

Running back Dontavius Jackson and defensive back Bacarri Rambo have both come back from injuries this spring, and defensive tackle Jeff Owens said Wednesday his rehab from last year's torn ACL is still going strong.

Durham was the fifth-leading receiver for Georgia last year with 13 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown, but two of those ahead of him (Knowshon Moreno and Mohamed Massaquoi) are no longer Bulldogs. He and classmate Michael Moore would have been the lone seniors on a young but talented receiving corps, but Moore will now have to go it alone.

"[Durham] would have been poised to have a heck of a senior year and be a big part of what we're doing," Richt said.

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